Do you make external links open on a new tab?

Updated by Brady Stroud [SSW] 1 year ago. See history

123

External links should open in a new tab (by using HTML's target="_blank"). Since browsers implemented tabs (replacing new window), it's considered a good practice to open external links in a different tab. Main reasons are:

  • Avoiding 'Back-Button Fatigue';
  • Keeping 'User Flow';
  • Keeping a good track of Analytics
<a href="http://support.microsoft.com/support">Support</a>

❌ Figure: Figure: Bad example - External link opening on the same tab

<a href="http://support.microsoft.com/support" target="_blank">Support</a>

✅ Figure: Figure: Good example - External link opening in a new tab

acknowledgements
related rules